Four-Legged Friends turned to Foes?

Man’s best friend, some gardeners might disagree.  How do we keep our pets happy and those prized peonies not looking like Fido’s personal featherbed can be a real challenge.  Most gardeners are pet lovers, which makes sense the two have many similarities; we coddle and protect our precious plants and our pets, we feed and nurture our gardens and pets, they both provide us with physical activity and many times when we are feeling blue we look to our pets for a little TLC or take a walk in our aromatic outdoor oasis to lift our spirits. 

But how do we keep our canine companions from tip-toeing through the tulips, or our feline friends from using the daffodils as a favorite spot to defecate?  Even worse, what if it isn’t even your pet who misbehaves a feud as big as the Hatfields and McCoys could erupt and there are no fences high enough to squelch that sort of neighborly disharmony. 

Midge Grinstead, Executive Director of the Lawrence Humane Society, has been dealing with problematic pet peeves for close to a decade now.  “We get about 50 dogs turned in for digging or chewing outdoors.  We receive many complaints regarding cats that dig in peoples gardens; it is usually a neighbor’s cat.  We probably take in a couple hundred cats for that reason alone.”

Most every pet professional will espouse how training is the key.  What ever the malady between your pet and your petunias, a good dose of training will likely do the trick.  My own experience with having a Great Dane as a companion is out-thinking my wily girl.  She is tall, so I started gathering large trellises and iron bed frames to enclose my flowerbeds in, did the trick.  Now my alliums and hibiscus live in harmony with my giant pet.  Many problems can be easily solved with a little ingenuity.

Diggety Dog

Do you find yourself sinking into cavernous pot holes your dog has created throughout the yard?  As you curse and yell at the possibility of a twisted ankle and vow that your mutt is going to the pound after you return from the doctors.  Wait; there are alternative solutions other than abandoning the family pet to fend for him self.

• Try designating a sandbox just for that dog to dig in.  Bury little treasures that your dog will love to discover and praise the pet when he does dig there.
• Use chicken wire under a layer of mulch, the plants can still peek through but a dog will not dig there.  Another inventive idea is to sprinkle sharp objects like pine cones, prickly holly foliage or rock mulch- all of which will hurt the tender paws of any pet hence they will steer clear of that area.

As far as why pets dig, Grinstead says, “Dogs usually dig because they are bored.  Try spending quality time outside with your pet that will certainly help.  Creating alternative places where it is okay for them to dig is a good solution as well.”

On the Move

If you don’t have a Greyhound and have not found a dog track that will accept your Basset Hound as a racing competitor, do not fear there may be some perfectly suitable elucidations to your quandary.

• Incorporate raised beds into the yard, a dog on the move will probably just skip right over the bed, avoiding it all together.
• Invisible fences do not just need to be for the yards perimeter you can put them around your beautiful plants as well.  One drawback however is that they will not work on other animals who might wander into the yard.
• If your dog is too destructive and you just don’t trust him, construct a dog run.  They can be made to look attractive by planting some vines to crawl up the sides; the flora will add shade for your pooch as well.

Leaving a Load

There is little that is more aggravating than stopping to smell the roses but the only whiff your nostrils are sensing is that of a bitter, unattractive urine scent, yuck.  Not only is this most unpleasant and alarming, but the excretions of a feline carry the risk of infecting humans with toxoplasmosis, this can be especially problematic for pregnant women.  What to do?

• All dogs and cats can be trained to do their business in a certain designated area.
• There are low-protein dog foods that may help eliminate brown spots in the lawn.  Brown spots are caused by the nitrogen level in a dog’s urine and having less protein may aid in your lawn staying a nice green hue.  High-quality veterinarian bought food may help too; they tend to contain more digestible proteins.  Consult your veterinarian before changing a pet’s diet.
• Fescue and perennial rye-grasses are more resistant to damage caused by pet urine.  White Clover is impervious to pet urine.
• If kitty wants to use the kid’s sandbox to conduct her business, try covering the box when the kids are not using it.  It will not only keep the cat out but the sand will be cleaner and fresher for the kiddies.

Avoiding an Area

Sometimes you simply have to outsmart your pet.  Your thinking, ‘I have a P.H.D. that can’t be too difficult,’ and you’re right.  There are many inventive ways to produce the results you want in creating a melodious living arrangement.

• Try planting Coleus canina also called “Scaredy Cat”, animals dislike the scent of this plant and will avoid it, keep in mind humans are not too fond of the aroma either so plant accordingly.  There are also a couple of scented geraniums, ‘Mosquito’ and ‘Citronella’ that deter pets as well.
• Cats and dogs don’t like the small of citrus, so instead of tossing out those lemon peels try scattering them around your flower beds.  They will compost into the soil in time and you are killing two birds with one stone.
• Planting flora close together with out open spaces can leave a dog or cat looking elsewhere for a pleasant place to rest.  You might also try placing twigs upright interspersed in the garden, using this form of Guerilla Warfare will make it uncomfortable for pets to move about.
• If you love to bird watch but you feel like you might be an accessory to murder when you’re little pussy cat pounces on an unsuspecting bird feeding on the birdseed you set out.  You might try giving the birds a fighting chance and having your cat don a bell.
• You might try distracting your cat to another area by planting catnip.  The kitty will smash it down and spend an entire afternoon rolling about the catnip leaving your prized plants alone.  Cat’s also love Cat Thyme.

Pets and gardeners can live harmoniously although never under estimate the hours invested in training a pet.  A stern “no” when a pet is behaving poorly can go a long way but always remember to praise your pets with treats and love when they display the behavior you wish.  It may also be wise to give into the fact that your garden might not be picture perfect.  But recall all those days toiling in the garden you usually had a great friend right by your side.

Poisonous Plants

Oleander

Yew

Castor bean

Lily of the Valley

Autumn crocus

Azalea

Rhododendron

Buckeye, horse chestnut

Rosary Pea

Toxicity depends on how much of a plant is consumed and how large the pet is.

Insecticides can also poison your pet, if you must spray you should allow quite a few hours before giving your pet freedom to roam again.